Dubai Airport Show opens with 100% growth in procurement contracts

In the last few weeks alone, he added, Dubai has announced significant advances including Q1 passenger traffic volumes at Dubai International Airport exceeding 9.7 million, a 2 per cent growth on the same period last year; a first-phase opening of Dubai World Central, the world's largest airport, in June 2010; and this week's debut of Dubai's own low-cost airline, flydubai. Airlines also continue to partner with Dubai airports, with 125 airlines currently connecting 210 international destinations through the emirate.

"Our investment plans continue to be confident and robust and are based in His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Strategic Plan 2015 for Dubai, which is designed to support the emirate's aviation, tourism, commercial and logistics requirements," said Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths, speaking on behalf of HH Sheikh Ahmed.

Despite the pall in the global aviation sector, the region's continuing activity was evident at the Dubai Airport Expo today, as the 210 exhibitors from 30 countries and more than 2,000 pre-registered visitors from 60 countries filled the 10,500 sq. m. area.

Reed Exhibitions, organizers of the Airport Show, the world's largest aviation industry platform outside Europe, said its number of specialist, high-volume buyers grew by 20 per cent despite the international downturn.

Frederic Theux, President of Reed Exhibitions Middle East, said: "More than AED 500 million of contracts are on offer this year, more than double the 2008 figure, and we have also welcomed representatives from more than 19 international airports from China in the Far East to Tunisia in North Africa. This clearly demonstrates that the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum is being implemented and works." "Dubai is a world platform for air transport, logistics and exhibitions, and today is proof that the most likely effect of the crisis will be to reinforce its position thanks to a combination of unique infrastructure and talents," Theux added.

While global aviation growth rates have slowed to less than two per cent, the Middle East region is clocking minimal growth rates of seven per cent. Dubai is surpassing both the world and the region, Dubai Airports CEO Griffiths said, with growth rates between 9 and 19 per cent.

"We are not expecting double-digit growth rates throughout 2009, but are confident to regain those in 2010," Griffiths added. "The Middle East is forging ahead, and within the next few years the collective capacity of airports in the region will reach 400 million passengers, with Dubai constituting 50 per cent of the total."

Griffiths also restated Dubai's commitment to continued investment in airport infrastructure and services development.

"A lot of people have been asking whether we've been recasting our plans in light of the global recession. The answer is no, we haven't, because this is Dubai's long-term plan. If we were to react to current market conditions, we would make the wrong decisions, create delays and raise costs, and we would not be ready for the coming upswing. We will remain on course," he said.

At the concurrent 'Future Airports' conference running alongside the Dubai Airport Show, the Day One focus remained on airport activity across the Gulf and larger Middle East region. Airport leaders from the Abu Dhabi Airport Company and King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Saudi Arabia echoed Dubai's sentiments, unveiling expansion plans and progress updates.

The 9th Dubai Airport Show will continue until May 21, 2009, at the Dubai Airport Expo, and features world-leading infrastructure and technology services providers, operators and manufacturers including Thales, Raytheon, Siemens and Honeywell, and leading regional companie from Bayanat Airports and Engineering Services company to Pacific Controls. The Future Airports conference ends tomorrow.